The Advantage of Serving God.
By G. C. Tenney
The psalmist was tempted to say that it was a vain thing to serve God. His feet were almost gone, his steps had well-nigh slipped, as he reasoned with himself. “Behold these are the ungodly who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.” He said, “Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.” He was envious at the foolish when he saw the prosperity of the wicked. It was not until he went into the sanctuary of God and saw in the death of the victims of sin the foreshadowing of the sinner’s doom, that he changed his mind and concluded that it was good for him to draw near to God. He then lamented his foolishness and ignorance, and, laying aside his repinings, he takes great delight in the Lord, and exclaims, “Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” Ps. 73. There are some glorious promises connected with the service of God which David had overlooked, as many of us are liable to do. The promise of mercy: “Showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.” “The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; to such as keep his covenant and to those who remember his commandments to do them.” A promise of peace: “Great peace have they who love thy law, and nothing shall offend them.” A promise to hear prayer: “And whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” But “he that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” A promise of fellowship with God: “If a man love me he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him and he in him.” A promise of final salvation: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” These promises, with similar ones contained in the word of God, are of infinite value. Though their fulfillment may not appear in signs of outward prosperity, they are the sure reward of every one who loves God, and keeps his ways because he loves them. When we realize the fact that the ways of God are more to be desired than much fine gold, sweeter than honey and the honey-comb; and that “In keeping of them there is great reward,” our service will be more earnest and acceptable than while we are clinging to the things of earth, mourning over our own trials, and looking with eager longings after the prosperity of this world. We shall not then hear so often: “If it wasn’t for the Sabbath;” “If it were not for our peculiar faith,” and like expressions which show where our hearts are. Let us love God because he has first loved us. Let us love his ways because they are ways of peace, purity and life.